FINAL HURDLE
Martindale fears SFA may block appointment over criminal past
DAVID MARTINDALE admits his criminal past could yet halt a managerial breakthrough at livingston as he is relying on the Scottish Fa to clear him as a‘ fit and proper person’ for the job.
the West lothian club yesterday named Martindale as successor to Gary Holt on a deal until the end of the season after he won all four games in temporary charge.
Previously assistant to Holt,
Kenny Miller and David Hopkin, the 46-year- old was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in 2006 after pleading guilty to cocaine dealing and money-laundering charges.
livingston are optimistic the appointment will be rubberstamped early in January, with chief executive John Ward i nsisting they have ‘ al ways believed in t he principles of constructive and effective rehabilitation’.
Martindale feels his football career has been ‘deservedly’ stifled to date, but remains hopeful his transition to full-time manager will now be approved by the governing body.
asked if he feared his past would hold him back, he said: ‘i think it has, and i think it still will, but i don’t have a problem with that, i deserve it.
‘the wall i have to climb is a little higher than everyone else, but so be it, i have made my bed and i will lie in it. You
do rely on other people — I am relying on the SFA to accept me as a manager. ‘There still may be an obstacle further down the line where the SFA might not see me as a “fit and proper person” to be a manager. ‘So you’re relying on other people’s good nature, goodwill, maybe even legislation, for want of a better word. It’s outwith my hands, and as an ex-offender it’s always a bit outwith your hands, if that makes sense.’ Under article ten of their regulations, the SFA board reserves the right to determine if someone is fit and proper ‘after due consideration of all relevant facts which the board has in its possession’.
But Ward is adamant Livingston’s appointment squares with the governing body’s own commitment to the removal of ‘barriers in the game’. ‘I am delighted for both the club and David that he has accepted the role of manager,’ said Livingston’s chief executive. ‘I am on record saying that I wanted him to take the job the last time we recruited. I think we have seen over the last four games just how the players have responded to his leadership and management style. ‘Livingston FC has always believed in the principles of constructive and effective rehabilitation, and we welcome the Scottish FA’s commitment last week to equality, fairness, justice, inclusion and the
removal of barriers in the game. ‘This allows David and others to participate in football at all levels and ensure that no individual is discriminated against. ‘We join with the SFA in our dedication and commitment to inclusive football for all under-represented groups in our communities.’